How and Why We Drive - August 15th, 2007
Trying to lead a green life and being a car enthusiast is a schizophrenic existence, especially when you run across articles like “The Fume-Spewing, Fattening Car is Also Utterly Expendable” by Lynsey Hanley, writing for The Guardian.
Essentially Hanley points out that the automobile does “more damage to our bodies, our built environment, our climate and our communities than anyone who drives a lot seems prepared to admit, even to themselves.”
Well, ouch!
Of course the article itself, looking at the real health benefits to be had by being a pedestrian, and the value of public transportation offers much food for thought. Here at AutomotiveBlog we spend a great deal of time writing about automotive tech, especially developments in alternative fuels and hybrid technology.
What’s more difficult to address is the psychological role of the car in day-to-day life, especially here in America, and the place the automobile holds as a cultural icon. Having a personal and private means of transportation is something of a status symbol, especially if you are in a position to drive and maintain a truly sexy ride.
It strikes me that changing the perceptions we hold about our cars is every bit as challenging as developing better fuel for those cars. The isolating and anonymous effect of being shut inside a cockpit has already been linked to the phenomenon of road rage. At the same time, the sense of privacy and protection afforded by that same cockpit makes many people back away in horror at the thought of using public transportation.
At the same time that new technology is transforming how we drive, perhaps it’s time to expend some mental energy on why we drive. Either way, Hanley’s article is thought-provoking and well worth the read.
Posted on August 15th, 2007 by Shorty
Filed under: general |
